Well, this is it. Make or break. The 9-game road monster starts tonight in the Islanders' final visit to The Joe. It's crucial we earn
at least 10 out of 18 points on this one. Weight knows the road hasn't exactly been kind to his team this season:
| “We got to change things,” interim head coach Doug Weight said. “We don’t have a good feeling, not a good vibe on the road right now. … We’ve been (home) a lot and we’ve been great (at home) and it’s been a crutch. Hopefully, we can get on the road and get together as a team and start to be that good road team that I believe we can be.” |
Stand or fall; state your piece tonight.
Thomas Greiss in net. Same defensive group. 13 forwards skated today; final lines TBD closer to gametime, with the bigger news being that Cal Clutterbuck will be in the lineup this evening. Shane Prince skated today, but not ready to return yet.
Ilya Sorokin and his CSKA team start the first round of the KHL playoffs today. While his numbers slipped slightly from last season, he's still among the league leaders with a 1.61 goals against average and a .930 save percentage.
Finally, while not Islanders related, a great video clip with Vladdy Tarasenko showing hockey players are the best. Stick tap to him and the Blues for treating the little girl you'll see so well:
Tarasenko Surprises 11-year old Girl w/Neuroblastoma
Let's Go Islanders
I know that's a huge number, but Florida's emergence as a force in the East has made that final Wild Card even more crowded. We have to find ways to consistently get points until March 13.
I've actually liked de Haan a lot this year, but I also agree him and Seidenberg aren't playing well together. Lately both haven't been very good.
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De haan and sit seidenberg. Bring up pulock already and play pelech. Or what really could happen is the coach breaks up the terrible pairing of seidenberg/de haan
I've actually liked de Haan a lot this year, but I also agree him and Seidenberg aren't playing well together. Lately both haven't been very good.
Just not a de haan fan. He was hyped up by the prospect weenies and he's just meh. I think he brings nothing to the offensive part of the game. I guess he sometimes makes quick outlet passes? But he never hits the net with a shot nor does he make great passes in the O zone. Which is pretty nuts to see him on PP2 while Pulock dominates in bport
Dave, I imagine Gionta will sit for 15. Hammer didn't accompany the Isles on this leg of the road trip, but per Staple, will join them on the road for next week's games. It's possible this will be a one way trip for some, so it's in their favor that their bags are already packed :-)
My fellow season ticket holder buddy and I are in 210, but for our next home game we got upgraded to seats right on the glass. Here's to hoping that's a worthwhile game.
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The islanders sucked early on. New pieces replaced old pieces. We sucked at home, we sucked on the road. Since we've played a ton more games at home we got a new coach and players found their way. Now time to take show on road and show the NHL we are a good team.
You're right. I just hope that huge hole that was dug early on isn't their undoing (although statistically speaking, it is). That said, I'm gonna turn off the "scoreboard watching" during this roadie. All of the other stuff won't matter if the Isles don't do what they need to on this trip.
To each their own... I'll have Winnepeg @ Toronto on my laptop tonight :)
Need to get 2pts tonight against a bad Detroit team. Nothing ever easy though as Detroit is coming off of consecutive wins versus the Pens and Caps.
Need to get 2pts tonight against a bad Detroit team. Nothing ever easy though as Detroit is coming off of consecutive wins versus the Pens and Caps.
On the flip side, the last time they played in Detroit, the Red Wings were in the middle of a slump, but managed to beat the Isles anyway. Maybe this is a good thing for the Isles.
Johan Franzen I assume and not Frans Nielsen :)
Statistically Speaking, Isles Big Line Driving Play - ( New Window )
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The Islanders are obviously surging. The top line of John Tavares, Anders Lee and Josh Bailey are dominating, but there has been big improvement for Andrew Ladd, Nick Leddy, Calvin de Haan and others. Before Christmas, the Islanders as a team were hovering around 46.0 score/venue-adjusted CF%; since then, the team as a whole is up to 50.9 CF%, so their improved record has strong underpinnings with improved shot metrics.
While we've certainly seen a better run of play since the holidays, this is interesting to me given there have been games we've won handily, yet still lost the Corsi battle. Regardless, credit to Weight for helping to get these numbers to a much more respectable place. Full article/chart linked below. Statistically Speaking, Isles Big Line Driving Play - ( New Window )
Wow, that's great stuff. Thanks for sharing.
To each their own... I'll have Winnepeg @ Toronto on my laptop tonight :)
Laine + Tornto's F's are a fun bunch to watch
Not sure what the Wings studio host is watching but he just said the Isles' "shaky goaltending" allowed the Wings to tie it. Greiss was moving laterally, hard one to stop. But what steams me is at the puck drop on the final faceoff, we swept the puck but it hit the ref's skate which allowed the Wings to keep possession (otherwise, it would have been a 50-50 puck and I think we could have bled the clock).
It's one period, and we're not behind. Not the worst thing, but they need to be mentally strong the rest of the way. This game sets the tone for the trip.
And I love the 4 on 4 Isles-standing-around fest that's completely given momentum back to DET.
Zeeker looked like he really hurt his hand...any updates on the Isles broadcast?
Zeeker looked like he really hurt his hand...any updates on the Isles broadcast?
Just that he went to the locker room with what looks like a jammed hand/wrist
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Zeeker looked like he really hurt his hand...any updates on the Isles broadcast?
Just that he went to the locker room with what looks like a jammed hand/wrist
DET announcers bitching about the "extra slashes and hacks" by the Isles. Guess they missed Abdelkeder's whack on Greiss that started that late scrum, along with all the hooking/holding DET is getting away with tonight.
Clutter is again a lower body injury, so you have to think he rushed back too quick. Can't seem to catch a break with a healthy lineup.